Primer and probe for detecting vibrio cholerae or vibrio mimicus and detection method using the same

ABSTRACT

To produce high-performance specific gene amplification primers for detecting, quantifying, or identifying  Vibrio cholerae  and  Vibrio mimicus , having low risk of misidentification and practically sufficient amplification efficiency and amplification specificity. We have determined partial nucleotide sequences of rpoD and gyrB genes of  Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus , and closely related species, revealed their phylogenetic relationship, and then identified nucleotides characteristic of  Vibrio cholerae  and  Vibrio mimicus , respectively. Thus, we have made it possible to design probes having high specificity and gene amplification primers having high specificity and excellent amplification efficiency, both of which contain the characteristic nucleotides.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for detecting, identifying, and counting Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus in food inspection, epidemiological environmental inspection, and clinical examination.

BACKGROUND ART

Vibrio cholerae produces a cholera toxin after oral infection and induces violent diarrhea and vomiting. In some cases, the infectious disease bacterium may cause affected patients to die from extreme dehydration. It has been thought that Vibrio cholerae, being toxic to humans, is only 01 cholerae that agglutinates by the use of an anti-O1 antibody. It has also been thought that Vibrio other than the bacterium is classified as NAG (O1-non-agglutinable)-Vibrio and is not toxic to humans. However, in the Bengal district in India in 1995, a new type of Vibrio cholerae having no O1 antigen that causes symptoms similar to those caused by conventional cholerae was isolated, revealing that the new Vibrio cholerae strain has a new O-antigen referred to as O139. This strain is referred to as the Bengal strain and has been revealed to have a cholerae toxin-producing gene similar to that of conventional O1 cholerae, which produces a toxin and induces cholera. Accordingly, it has been shown that Vibrio other than 01 cholerae can infect humans and cause cholera. Actually, Vibrio cholerae strains having cholera toxin genes are present, in addition to O1 and O139 strains. Such strains induce cholera in humans. However, symptoms due to Vibrio cholerae strains other than the O1 and O139 strains are not treated as infectious diseases administratively.

In the meantime, a non-saccharolytic strain has been rarely detected among non-O1 strains of Vibrio cholerae. Davis et al., have examined DNA homology of the strain with Vibrio cholerae, thereby showing that the strain is somewhat different from Vibrio cholerae and designating the strain as Vibrio mimicus. It has been reported that Vibrio mimicus is a strain very closely related to Vibrio cholerae. Specifically, except saccharolytic ability (Vibrio cholerae is positive and Vibrio mimicus is negative), the biochemical properties of the two species are very similar (J. Clin. Microbiol. 14, 631-639, 1981) (non-patent document 1). It is known that among Vibrio mimicus there are strains having a cholera toxin gene similar to that of Vibrio cholerae (Microbiol Immunol 1998, 42, 823-828) (non-patent document 2). Vibrio mimicus may thus induce symptoms similar to those of cholera.

Furthermore, among Vibrio cholerae having no cholera toxin genes, strains that have been reported to be present are: strains having a thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) gene (Appl Environ Microbiol 52, 1218-20, 1986) (non-patent document 3) that is a pathogenic factor of Vibrio parahaemolyticus; and a strain producing a thermostable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (J. Clin. Invest. 85: 697-705, 1990) (non-patent document 4). They can cause diarrhea and the like. Similarly, among Vibrio mimicus, a strain having a tdh gene has been reported to be present (FEMS Microbiol 59: 319-23, 1990) (non-patent document 5), which can cause diarrhea and the like even when it does not produce any cholera toxin.

As described above, a case in which Vibrio cholerae having serotype of O1 or O139 (Bengal) and producing a cholera toxin is detected is a subject to measures specified in the “Law Concerning Prevention of Infection of Infectious Diseases and Patients with Infectious Diseases.” Moreover, there are also cholera toxin-producing strains among Vibrio cholerae other than O1 cholerae and Bengal cholerae, which induce symptoms similar to those of cholera. Furthermore, strains producing no cholera toxins do not cause cholera. However, this does not mean that they are non-pathogenic. Such strains induce acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and the like by producing toxins other than the cholera toxin. Therefore, it is required to rapidly and precisely detect the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group.

Furthermore, in the case of Vibrio mimicus, there are strains producing a cholera toxin that can cause cholera and strains causing acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and the like through the production of toxins other than the cholera toxin. Therefore, it is also required to rapidly and precisely detect the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group.

Conventional methods of examination using biochemical techniques require skilled technology and much effort and time. To compensate for such deficiencies, precise, rapid, and convenient methods of examination using genes have been attempted for detecting or identifying Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus.

Primers for detecting the gene encoding the cholera toxin that causes cholera are already known (J. Biol. Chem. 1983, 258, 13722-13726) (non-patent document 6). However, it is impossible to detect Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus, which do not have any cholera toxin gene but which produce other toxins through the use of such primers.

In the meantime, when Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus are compared in terms of the full-length nucleotide sequence of a 16S rRNA gene, only 6 among 1,456 nucleotides are found to differ (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 44, 416-426, 1994) (non-patent document 7). Thus, it is impossible to clearly distinguish between the two. Accordingly, there is a report wherein Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus were compared in terms of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region so as to show that they can be classified and primers with which only Vibrio cholerae can be detected were produced (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65, 2202-2208, 1999) (non-patent document 8). However, there is also a report wherein Vibrio mimicus was detected by mistake when the primers were used (Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67, 2360-2364 2001) (non-patent document 9).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, it has been impossible to detect with high accuracy Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus by the existing genetic detection methods.

What is common among conventional genetic screening methods is that they ignore the fact that a bacterial “species” is a population containing genetic diversity. The use of a nucleotide sequence of a single bacterial strain that is inferred to be a member of a bacterial population as a common sequence for such population or a sequence representing such population is very dangerous in terms of molecular evolutional characteristics of genes, which rapidly accumulate neutral mutations. Specifically, there is concern that such use could cause misidentification such that a bacterial strain to be detected could not be detected because of inhibited amplification due to a slight mutation in a primer region. There is also concern that a closely related strain not to be detected would be detected because of insufficient primer specificity. Hence, it has been required to produce a high-performance and specific gene amplification primer for detecting, identifying, or quantifying Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus and a gene amplification primer for specifically detecting, identifying, or quantifying Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus, which have proven backgrounds of specificity, low possibility of misidentification, and practically sufficient amplification efficiency and amplification specificity.

To produce a method for specifically detecting a gene of a bacterial phylogenetic group, there is a need to collect as many nucleotide sequences as possible from a biological group to be detected and from biological groups phylogenetically close to these groups. Moreover, a gene targeted for specific detection should have a sufficiently unique nucleotide sequence so that it is distinguishable from the most closely related organisms. In order to satisfy these conditions, a target gene must have a sufficiently rapid rate of evolution. In addition, as in the case of a gene that is transmitted horizontally at a high frequency (e.g., a toxin gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus), a gene that exists independently of the phylogenetic line cannot be used. Proteins encoded by a gyrB gene and an rpoD gene used as targets in the present invention are essential for survival. Because of this reason, these genes are hardly transmitted horizontally and have appropriate rates of evolution, so that they are preferably used for bacterial phylogenetic analysis (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1998, 48, 813-819; Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1999, 49, 87-95). We have already developed a convenient method for determining a nucleotide sequence that involves subjecting the gyrB gene and the rpoD gene to the PCR direct sequencing method (JP Patent Publication (Kokai) Nos. 07-213229 A (1995) and 08-256798 A (1996)). Furthermore, we have already isolated large quantities of Vibrio cholerae. In the meantime, regarding a known stock strain of Vibrio mimicus and those reported to be closely related to this bacterium according to analysis based on a 16S rRNA sequence, Listonella anguillarum, V. ordalii, V. diazotrophicus, V. vulnificus, V. navarrensis, V. metschnikovii, and V. cincinnatiensis (International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 51, 1449-1456 (2001)), we have analyzed the partial nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes of bacterial strains listed in Table 1 and conducted molecular phylogenetic analysis based on such sequences, thereby revealing the phylogenetic relationship. TABLE 1 Strains used V. cholerae 29 strains Clinically isolated 29 strains strains V. mimicus 4 strains ATCC 33653 T ATCC 33654 ATCC 33655 ATCC 700326 Other stock strains 52 strains of the genus Vibrio V. vulnificus 32 strains ATCC 27562 T ATCC 29306 ATCC 29307 ATCC 33147 ATCC 33148 ATCC 33149 ATCC 33814 ATCC 33815 ATCC 33816 ATCC 33817 ATCC 43382 ATCC BAA-86 ATCC BAA-87 ATCC BAA-88 ATCC BAA-89 ATCC BAA-90 JCM 3726 JCM 3727 JCM 3728 JCM 3729 JCM 3730 JCM 3731 Strains isolated 10 strains from environment V. diazotrophicus ATCC 33466 T V. navarrensis ATCC 51183 T V. metschnikovii ATCC 700040 T V. cincinnatiensis ATCC 35912 T V. ordalii NCIMB 2167 T Listonella NCIMB 6 T anguillarum V. hollisae ATCC 33564 T V. alginolyticus IFO 15630 T V. campbellii IFO 15631 T V. carchariae IFO 15632 T V. harveyi IFO 15634 T V. nereis IFO 15637 T V. parahaemolyticus IFO 12711 T V. proteolyticus IFO 13287 T V. tubiashii IFO 15644 T Vibrio. sp 5 strains Strains isolated from food Total 85 strains

Specifically, after the test strains had been subjected to enrichment culture using brain heart infusion media supplemented with 2% NaCl, chromosomal DNA was extracted using a PUREGENE DNA Isolation Kit (Gentra SYSTEMS). Using the extracted DNA as a template, a gyrB gene fragment with a length of approximately 900 bp (a region corresponding to positions 331 to 1212 of the nucleotide sequence or positions 111 to 404 of the amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli strain K-12) was amplified by PCR using gyrB universal amplification primers UP-1E and AprU. Furthermore, similarly, an rpoD gene fragment with a length of approximately 800 bp (a region corresponding to positions 334 to 1125 of the nucleotide sequence and positions 112 to 375 of the amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli strain K-12) was amplified by PCR using rpoD universal amplification primers 70F-M13 and 70R-M13. The obtained PCR product was subjected to 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, and then stained with ethidium bromide. Amplified products were confirmed to be present under UV irradiation, and then purified using a Wizard PCR Preps DNA Purification System (Promega), thereby preparing templates for sequence reaction. Cycle sequence reaction was conducted using as primers M13R and M13-21 sequences previously added to the universal primers and an ABI PRISM BigDye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction Kit (PE Applied Biosystems). The nucleotide sequences were analyzed using an ABI PRISM 310 Genetic Analyzer (PE Applied Biosystems). Upon molecular phylogenetic analysis using the determined nucleotide sequences, to more precisely understand closely related species of Vibrio cholera and mimicus, analysis was conducted after linking partial sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. The obtained nucleotide sequences were subjected to multiple alignment analysis using a Clustal W computer program. Subsequently, through the use of a PHYLIP computer program package, a molecular phylogenetic tree was produced by the neighbor-joining method based on genetic distance calculated using Kimura's 2-parameter model. As a result, it was shown that Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong to mono phyletic line different from those of other bacteria of the genus Vibrio. Specifically, it was suggested that Vibrio cholerae and mimicus each forms an independent mono phyletic group (FIG. 1). Hence, to establish a genetic screening method that can detect only Vibrio cholerae and mimicus bacterial groups, firstly differences in nucleotide sequences among closely related species were revealed. That is, nucleotide positions that are conserved within the Vibrio cholerae and mimicus groups but differ from other bacteria of the genus Vibrio were identified. Specifically, consensus sequences of the phylogenetic groups to which Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong were found and compared with consensus sequences of C1 to C3 clusters in FIG. 1 determined to be closely related to this phylogenetic line based on the results of molecular phylogenetic analysis. Thus, a phylogenetically specific information map was produced (FIGS. 2 and 3). The following positions are specific to the phylogenetic line to which Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong: as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of the gyrB gene, positions (hereinafter also referred to as nucleotide number) 21, 96, 107, 126, 153, 190, 258, 270, 279, 285, 357, 543, 552, 557, 600, 690, 702, 714, 729, 733, 734, 759, 771, 782, 786, 792, 795, and 885 of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing; and as shown in FIG. 3, in the case of the rpoD gene, positions 3, 27, 66, 67, 75, 90, 117, 123, 141, 144, 177, 178, 180, 186, 223, 227, 228, 231, 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, 264, 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, 314, 350, 351, 362, 369, 373, 374, 380, 390, 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, 416, 423, 427, 433, 444, 447, 504, 510, 513, 543, 556, 558, 618, 638, 649, 663, 685, 711, 747, 757, 762, 763, and 789 of SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing. The use of sequences specific to this phyletic line containing these characteristic nucleotides enables the design of probes having high specificity and gene amplification primers having high specificity and excellent amplification efficiency. For example, it becomes possible to design such a primer containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides (containing nucleotides that differ from those of closely related species so as to always contain positions that differ in terms of nucleotides from those of closely related species) of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes, preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides, and further preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides and 40 or fewer continuous nucleotides of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. Similarly, it also becomes possible to design a probe containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides (containing nucleotides that differ from those of closely related species so as to always contain positions that differ in terms of nucleotides from those of closely related species) of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes, preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides, and further preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides and 100 or fewer continuous nucleotides of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. Furthermore, to produce the primers and the probes, a region containing the above different nucleotides at high frequencies (containing 2 or more such nucleotides) can be preferably used, such as: in the case of the gyrB gene, a region containing positions 96 and 107, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 258, 270, 279, or 285, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 543, 552, or 557, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 690, 702, or 714, and a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 729, 733, or 734, a region containing 759 and 771, and a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 782, 786, 792, or 795; and in the case of the rpoD gene, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 66, 67, 75, or 90, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 177, 178, 180, or 186, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 223, 227, 228, or 231, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, or 264, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, or 314, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 362, 369, 373, 374, or 380, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, or 416, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 423, 427, 433, 444, or 447, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 504, 510, or 513, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 543, 556, or 558, and a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 747, 757, 762, or 763. Furthermore, in the case of primers, the 3′-terminus is preferably a nucleotide specific to Vibrio cholerae and mimicus bacterial groups. The present invention encompasses a kit for detecting, quantifying, or identifying Vibrio cholera and mimicus using these primers and probes in combination with other reagents.

In the meantime, Vibrio cholerae and mimicus bacterial groups, that is, the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group and the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, further form an independent mono phyletic group (FIG. 1). Hence, to establish a genetic screening method that can separately detect the Vibrio cholerae and mimicus bacterial groups, regions that are conserved within each of the Vibrio cholerae and mimicus groups, and nucleotide positions that differ from each other within the same were identified in a manner similar to the above. Specifically, consensus sequences of phylogenetic groups to which Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong were compared with each other, so that a phylogenetically-specific information map was produced (FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7). Regarding the mono phyletic group to which Vibrio cholerae belongs, the following positions are specific: as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the gyrB gene, positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, and 885 of SEQ ID NO: 3 in the sequence listing; and as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of the rpoD gene, positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, and 804 of SEQ ID NO: 4 in the sequence listing. Regarding the phyletic group to which Vibrio mimicus belongs, the following positions are specific: as shown in FIG. 6, in the case of the gyrB gene, positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, and 885 of SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sequence listing; and as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of the rpoD gene, positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, and 804 of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the sequence listing. The use of sequences that are specific to the phyletic group to which Vibrio cholera or Vibrio mimicus belongs and containing these characteristic nucleotides enables the design of probes having high specificity and gene amplification primers having high specificity and excellent amplification efficiency. For example, it becomes possible to design a primer containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides (containing nucleotides that differ between the two bacterial species so as to always contain nucleotide positions that are different between Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus) of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes, preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides, and further preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides and 40 or fewer continuous nucleotides of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. Similarly, it also becomes possible to design a probe containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides (containing nucleotides that differ between the 2 bacterial species so as to always contain nucleotide positions that differ between Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio cholerae) of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes, preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides, and further preferably containing 20 or more nucleotides and 100 or fewer continuous nucleotides of nucleotide sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. Furthermore, to produce the primers and the probes, a region containing the above different nucleotides at high frequencies (containing 2 or more such nucleotides) can be preferably used, such as: in the case of the gyrB gene, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, or 51, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 285, 291, or 306, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 384, 390, or 399, and a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885; and in the case of the rpoD gene, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, or 117, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 126, 132, or 141, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 216, 222, 231, or 240, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, or 264, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 276, 285, or 291, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 327, 333, 342, or 345, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, or 446, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 448, 450, 453, or 468, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 489, 495, or 501, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 519, 522, 525, or 540, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 585, 591, 600, 603, or 606, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 639, 645, 654, or 657, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, or 687, a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, or 723, and a region containing 2 or more positions of any of positions 729, 732, 741, or 750. Furthermore, in the case of primers, the 3′-terminus is preferably a nucleotide specific to Vibrio cholerae or mimicus.

Specifically, primers for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae and mimicus bacterial groups are as follows.

(1) In the case of the gyrB gene, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing nucleotides at positions 96 and 107 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a gene amplification primer comprising a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 258, 270, 279, or 285 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a gene amplification primer comprising a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 543, 552, or 557 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a gene amplification primer comprising a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 690, 702, or 714 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 729, 733, or 734 of SEQ ID NO: 1; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing nucleotides at positions 759 and 771 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 782, 786, 792, or 795 of SEQ ID NO: 1. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer that is any one of 5′-tycaywcscaaacttacca-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-gaaytctggcgtgtcgatcaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-catrtagttgttcaaagtacgg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-ggatttyacytccgaagaaacyagc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-ygccagcttctcattcatr-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-cgcttcgcttgggttttcc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, or 5′-caataatcttcgaacaaacgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

(2) In the case of the rpoD gene, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides containing 2 or more nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 at any of positions 66, 67, 75 or 90 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 177, 178, 180, or 186 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 223, 227, 228, or 231 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, or 264 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, or 314 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 362, 369, 373, 374, or 380 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, or 416 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 423, 427, 433, 444, or 447 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 504, 510, or 513 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 543, 556, or 558 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 747, 757, 762, or 763 of SEQ ID NO: 2. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer that is any one of 5′-gattgctgagtatcctggaaccatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-gaycctaacgacatggaaacc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-ttcwgarctytctgaagcs-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-agatgaygmkgtcgysgar-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-cgacggtgaaagyagcgacag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-caatgaactgcgcggyaagtt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-gtcacgaccaaattcattaac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-gyytgamgcttcagawgcttgrtka-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-ygargtrcgcagagtttcaacc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, 5′-catyaccaarcgytcttgg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, or 5′-cgytcaacagacagtgawgtc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

Primers for Vibrio cholerae are as follows.

(1) In the case of gyrB, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 3 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, or 51 of SEQ ID NO: 3; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 3 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 285, 291, or 306 of SEQ ID NO: 3; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 3 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 384, 390, or 399 of SEQ ID NO: 3; or a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 3 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 of SEQ ID NO: 3. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ggtggttaacgcgctytct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ycgatgaacgtgaagaagataaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tgagaaagtcttccacttt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gttaaagtggaagactttc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gggtaagccwgcaagatcc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

(2) In the case of rpoD, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, or 117 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 126, 132, or 141 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 216, 222, 231, or 240 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, or 264 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 276, 285, or 291 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 327, 333, 342, or 345 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, or 446 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 448, 450, 453, or 468 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 489, 495, or 501 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 519, 522, 525, or 540 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 585, 591, 600, 603, or 606 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 639, 645, 654, or 657 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 679, 680, 681, 687, or 702 of SEQ ID NO: 4; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 705, 708, 714, 720, or 723 of SEQ ID NO: 4; and a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 729, 732, 741, or 750 of SEQ ID NO: 4. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-attcttgagcagtttgatcgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-caggccgaagagctacgtctc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tgagctttctgaagcggatctcgcg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gaagatgatgctgtcgtcgaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gaagatgaagacgaagat-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-cggtatcgaccctgaactg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-catcaagcttctgaagcgtcaga-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tcaaccaagtggtcgaattgc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-acggaagatatccarcactaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gcgaacacgatccattgaagtg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gatgaacgatttcttcggcatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-aaggactttatccagccac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ttcttcttgctcacggactttcgc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ttctgaattgaacggcggatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tgtctcttgctcgatcatttgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

Primers for Vibrio mimicus are as follows.

(1) In the case of gyrB, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, or 51 of SEQ ID NO: 5; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 285, 291, or 306 of SEQ ID NO: 5; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 384, 390, or 399 of SEQ ID NO: 5; and a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 of SEQ ID NO: 5. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ggtagtgaatgccctgtca-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-cggatgagcgtgaagaagataag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tgaaaaagtattccacttc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gttgaagtggaatactttt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-wggcaaaccagckarrtct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

(2) In the case of rpoD, examples of such gene amplification primers include: a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, or 117 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 126, 132, or 141 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 216, 222, 231, or 240 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, or 264 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 276, 285, or 291 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 327, 333, 342, or 345 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, or 446 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 448, 450, 453, or 468 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 489, 495, or 501 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 519, 522, 525, or 540; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 585, 591, 600, 603, or 606 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 639, 645, 654, or 657 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 679, 680, 681, 687, or 702 of SEQ ID NO: 6; a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 705, 708, 714, 720, or 723 of SEQ ID NO: 6; and a gene amplification primer containing a strand or a complementary strand thereof of 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 containing 2 or more nucleotides at any of positions 729, 732, 741, or 750 of SEQ ID NO: 6. More specific examples include a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-cattcttgaacagtttgacaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-caggcagaagaactacgtctg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-agarctctctgaagccgatctcgct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gaagatgacgaggtcgcggag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gaggatgaagatgaagac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gggtattgaccctgagctc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-taaccaagcatctgaagcttcaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-tcaaccaaatggtcaaattgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gcggaaratatccagtaccag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-acgaacacgatccatcgaggta-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-aataaatgatttctttggcatt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gagyactttatcragccat-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-gtcttcttgctcacgtactttttg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-ttggattgaagggcgaata-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and a gene amplification primer comprising 5′-agtctcytgttcgatcatctgm-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto, and gene amplification primers that contain the strands or the complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences.

The above regions and strands or complementary strands thereof comprising the above sequences can be directly used as primers. Furthermore, if necessary, other sequences such as adaptor sequences can be contained in primers.

The present invention encompasses a kit for detecting, quantifying, or identifying Vibrio cholerae or mimicus using these primers and probes in combination with other reagents.

A gene amplification method used in the present invention is not limited to the PCR method. The primers and the probes can be used in a specific amplification method that is based on the specificity of primers or a method for specifically inhibiting amplification. Furthermore, the primers and the probes can also be similarly used in a quantification and amplification reaction using specific amplification primers and a labeled specific probe in combination. Furthermore, a probe sequence can also be used alone. A method for using the probes is not limited to one involving the solid phase or the liquid phase. The primers and the probes can also be utilized for carrying out real-time PCR using a reagent such as cyber green for detecting amplified double-stranded DNA or real-time PCR to which FRET or the like is applied.

The use of information on specificity between phyletic group (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) of the nucleotide sequences obtained in the present invention enables the design of probes having high specificity and gene amplification primers having high specificity and excellent amplification efficiency. Table 2 shows the sequences of PCR primers produced based on specific nucleotide information regarding Vibrio cholerae or Vibrio mimicus (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) obtained in the present invention. TABLE 2 Primers for specifically detecting V. cholerae and V. mimicus Target gene Primer Sequence Length Position Direction gyrB CMgF gaaytctggcgtgtcgatcaag 22 258-279 Sense CMgR catrtagttgttcaaagtacgg 22 564-543 Antisense rpoD CMrF gaycctaacgacatggaaacc 21 166-186 Sense CMrR gtcacgaccaaattcattaac 21 420-400 Antisense

Information concerning phylogenetic groups has been obtained. Thus, it is possible to design specific primers or probes for almost all of the analyzed sequences.

The present invention will be hereafter described in detail by referring to examples. Each example is an embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited by these examples.

This specification includes part or all of the contents as disclosed in the specification or drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-362878, which is a priority document of the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the result of molecular phylogenetic analysis after linking partial sequences of the gyrB and rpoD genes. This is a molecular phylogenetic tree produced by the neighbor-joining method, showing that Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong to a mono phyletic group differing from those of other bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio. Furthermore, each of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus forms an independent mono phyletic group.

FIG. 2 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the gyrB gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the gyrB gene of closely related clusters (C1, 2, and 3 in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio cholerae and mimicus.

FIG. 3 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the rpoD gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholerae and mimicus belong (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the rpoD gene of the closely related clusters (C1, 2, and 3 in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio cholerae and mimicus.

FIG. 4 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the gyrB gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholerae belongs (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the gyrb gene of the cluster to which Vibrio mimicus belongs (shown in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio cholerae.

FIG. 5 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the rpoD gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholera belongs (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the rpoD gene of the cluster to which Vibrio mimicus belongs (shown in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio cholerae.

FIG. 6 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the gyrB gene of the cluster to which Vibrio mimicus belongs (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the gyrB gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholerae belongs (shown in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio mimicus.

FIG. 7 shows the results of determination of and comparison between the consensus sequence (upper case) of the rpoD gene of the cluster to which Vibrio mimicus belongs (shown in FIG. 1) and the consensus sequence (lower case) of the rpoD gene of the cluster to which Vibrio cholerae belongs (shown in FIG. 1). Sites denoted with “●” are nucleotides specific to Vibrio mimicus.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Example 1

An example of using gene amplification primers (shown in Table 2) designed and obtained according to the present invention using regions specific to Vibrio cholerae and mimicus is shown. In addition, primers described in claim 5 (2) and (3) and claim 11 (2) and (7) correspond to CMgF, CMgR, CMrF, and CMrR in Table 2, respectively. PCR was carried out using chromosomal DNAs as templates extracted from test strains, AmpliTaq Gold (PE Applied Biosystems), and a total of 20 μl of reaction solution. Regarding thermal cycler conditions, after 10 minutes of heating at 95° C., 35 cycles of 94° C. for 1 minute, 1 minute of annealing (see Table 5 for annealing temperatures), and 72° C. for 1 minute were conducted, finally followed by 10 minutes of elongation reaction at 72° C. Samples obtained after reaction were subjected to 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, and then stained with ethidium bromide. The presence or the absence of amplified genes was confirmed under UV irradiation. Amplified products were confirmed only for the DNAs derived from the bacterial strains determined to belong to Vibrio cholerae and mimicus with both combinations of CMgF and CMgR targeting the gyrB gene and CMrF and CMrR targeting the rpoD gene (Table 6).

Example 2

An example of using gene amplification primers (shown in Table 3 and Table 4) designed and obtained according to the present invention using regions specific to Vibrio cholerae or mimicus is shown. In addition, primers described in claim 19 (1), (3), (4), and (5) and claim 25 (1) and (14) are specific to Vibrio cholera. These primers are described in CF1, CF2, CR2, CR1, CrF1, and CrR1 in Table 3. Primers described in claim 33 (1), (3), (4), and (5) and claim 39 (7) and (13) are specific to Vibrio mimicus. These primers correspond to MF1, MF2, MR2, MR1, MrF1, and MrR1 in Table 4, respectively.

In a manner similar to Example 1, PCR was carried out using as templates chromosomal DNAs extracted from test strains (see Table 5 for annealing temperatures). In all cases, the use of Vibrio cholera-specific primers resulted in detection of amplification products only from Vibrio cholera and the use of Vibrio mimicus-specific primers resulted in detection of amplification products only from Vibrio mimicus (Table 6). TABLE 3 Primers for specifically detecting V. cholerae Target gene Primer Sequence Length Position Direction gyrB CF1 ggtggttaacgcgctytct 19 33-51 Sense CR2 gttaaagtggaagactttc 19 402-384 Antisense CF2 tgagaaagtcttccacttt 19 381-399 Sense CR1 gggtaagccwgcaagatcc 19 885-867 Antisense rpoD CrF1 attcttgagcagtttgatcgt 21  97-117 Sense CrR1 ttctgaattgaacggcggatc 21 725-705 Antisense

TABLE 4 Primers for specifically detecting V. mimicus Tar- get gene Primer Sequence Length Position Direction gyrB MF1 ggtagtgaatgccctgtca 19 33-51 Sense MR2 gttgaagtggaatactttt 19 402-384 Antisense MF2 tgaaaaagtattccacttc 19 381-399 Sense MR1 wggcaaaccagckarrtct 19 885-867 Antisense rpoD MrF1 taaccaagcatctgaagcttcaag 24 423-446 Sense MrR1 gtcttcttgctcacgtactttttg 24 702-679 Antisense

TABLE 5 PCR conditions for primers for specifically detecting V. cholerae and V. mimicus PCR conditions Annealing Number Primer Target Sense Antisense Amplification temperature of temperature gene primer primer product (bp) (° C.) cycles (μM) gyrB CMgF CMgR 307 60 35 0.1 (V. cholerae, V. mimicus) rpoD CMrF CMrR 255 60 35 0.1 (V. cholerae, V. mimicus) gyrB CF1 CR2 370 65 35 0.1 (V. cholerae) CF2 CR1 505 60 35 0.1 rpoD CrF1 CrR1 629 65 35 0.1 (V. cholerae) gyrB MF1 MR2 370 65 35 0.1 (V. mimicus) MF2 MR1 505 60 35 0.1 rpoD MrF1 MrR1 280 65 35 0.1 (V. mimicus)

TABLE 6 PCR Cholerae CMgF CMrF CF1 CF2 CrF1 MF1 MF2 MrF1 Serial Strain toxin & & & & & & & & No. Name name Serotype gene CMgR CMrR CR2 CR1 CrR1 MR2 MR1 MrR1 1 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 27562 T 2 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 29306 3 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 29307 4 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33147 5 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33148 6 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33149 7 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33814 8 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33815 9 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33816 10 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 33817 11 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − 43382 12 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − BAA-86 13 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − BAA-87 14 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − BAA-88 15 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − BAA-89 16 V. vulnificus ATCC − − − − − − − − BAA-90 17 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3726 18 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3727 19 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3728 20 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3729 21 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3730 22 V. vulnificus JCM − − − − − − − − 3731 23 V. vulnificus No. 4 − − − − − − − − 24 V. vulnificus No. 9 − − − − − − − − 25 V. vulnificus No. 66 − − − − − − − − 26 V. vulnificus No. 74 − − − − − − − − 27 V. vulnificus No. 81 − − − − − − − − 28 V. vulnificus No. 130 − − − − − − − − 29 V. vulnificus No. 196 − − − − − − − − 30 V. vulnificus No. 202 − − − − − − − − 31 V. vulnificus No. 496 − − − − − − − − 32 V. vulnificus No. 965 − − − − − − − − 33 V. cholerae DU1 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 34 V. cholerae DU2 O1 + + + + + + − − − 35 V. cholerae DU3 O1 + + + + + + − − − 36 V. cholerae DU6 O1 + + + + + + − − − 37 V. cholerae DU19 O1 + + + + + + − − − 38 V. cholerae DU63 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 39 V. cholerae DU81 O1 + + + + + + − − − 40 V. cholerae DU94 O1 + + + + + + − − − 41 V. cholerae T2 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 42 V. cholerae T6 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 43 V. cholerae T97 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 44 V. cholerae T98 O1 + + + + + + − − − 45 V. cholerae T116 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 46 V. cholerae NM20 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 47 V. cholerae NM26 O1 + + + + + + − − − 48 V. cholerae NM48 O1 + + + + + + − − − 49 V. cholerae NM67 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 50 V. cholerae NM84 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 51 V. cholerae NM85 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 52 V. cholerae Q37 O1 + + + + + + − − − 53 V. cholerae Q57 O1 + + + + + + − − − 54 V. cholerae Q59 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 55 V. cholerae Q66 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 56 V. cholerae Q70 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 57 V. cholerae Q90 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 58 V. cholerae K47 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 59 V. cholerae OPC24 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 60 V. cholerae OPC39 monO1 + + + + + + − − − 61 V. cholerae OPC60 O1 + + + + + + − − − 62 V. mimicus ATCC − + + − − − + + + 33563 T 63 V. mimicus ATCC − + + − − − + + + 33654 64 V. mimicus ATCC + + + − − − + + + 33655 65 V. mimicus ATCC + + + − − − + + + 700326 66 V. diazo- ATCC − − − − − − − − Trophicus 33466 T 67 V. navarrensis ATCC − − − − − − − − 51183 T 68 V. metschnikovii ATCC − − − − − − − − 700040 T 69 V. cincinnatiensis ATCC − − − − − − − − 35912 T 70 V. ordalii NCIMB − − − − − − − − 2167 T 71 Listonella NCIMB − − − − − − − − anguillarum 6 T 72 V. alginolyticus IFO − − − − − − − − 15630 T 73 V. campbellii IFO − − − − − − − − 15631 T 74 V. carchariae IFO − − − − − − − − 15632 T 75 V. harveyi IFO − − − − − − − − 15634 T 76 V. nereis IFO − − − − − − − − 15637 T 77 V. IFO − − − − − − − − parahaemolyticus 12711 T 78 V. proteolyticus IFO − − − − − − − − 13287 T 79 V. tubiashii IFO − − − − − − − − 15644 T 80 Vibrio sp. V11 − − − − − − − − 81 Vibrio sp. V41 − − − − − − − − 82 Shewanella sp. V52 − − − − − − − − 83 Vibrio sp. V65 − − − − − − − − 84 Vibrio sp. V70 − − − − − − − − 85 V. hollisae ATCC − − − − − − − − 33564 T

All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The gyrB and rpoD gene primers and probes of the present invention have been designed based on the understanding of the phylogenetic relationship of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus. Thus, the primers and the probes have been studied for improving specificity and are excellent in terms of detection accuracy. Hence, the primers and the probes are advantageous when direct detection is carried out under circumstances where a bacterium is not isolated from foods, clinical specimens, or the like that are contaminated with closely related bacterial species. 

1. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, which is a fragment of a gene (gyrB) encoding a DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing and contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions (also referred to as nucleotide numbers) 21, 96, 107, 126, 153, 190, 258, 270, 279, 285, 357, 543, 552, 557, 600, 690, 702, 714, 729, 733, 734, 759, 771, 782, 786, 792, 795, or 885, said positions being unique to Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 2. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 21, 96, 107, 126, 153, 190, 258, 270, 279, 285, 357, 543, 552, 557, 600, 690, 702, 714, 729, 733, 734, 759, 771, 782, 786, 792, 795, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing containing the fragment of claim 1, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups.
 3. The gene amplification primer of claim 2, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups as specified in claim 2 is used.
 4. The gene amplification primer of claim 2, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups as specified in claim
 2. 5. The gene amplification primer of claim 2, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-tycaywcscaaacttacca-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-gaaytctggcgtgtcgatcaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-catrtagttgttcaaagtacgg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-ggatttyacytccgaagaaacyagc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (5) 5′-ygccagcttctcattcatr-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (6) 5′-cgcttcgcttgggttttcc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (7) 5′-caataatcttcgaacaaacgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 6. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 21, 96, 107, 126, 153, 190, 258, 270, 279, 285, 357, 543, 552, 557, 600, 690, 702, 714, 729, 733, 734, 759, 771, 782, 786, 792, 795, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups.
 7. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing, which contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions 3, 27, 66, 67, 75, 90, 117, 123, 141, 144, 177, 178, 180, 186, 223, 227, 228, 231, 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, 264, 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, 314, 350, 351, 362, 369, 373, 374, 380, 390, 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, 416, 423, 427, 433, 444, 447, 504, 510, 513, 543, 556, 558, 618, 638, 649, 663, 685, 711, 747, 757, 762, 763, or 789 in a gene (rpoD) encoding an RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 2, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 8. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 3, 27, 66, 67, 75, 90, 117, 123, 141, 144, 177, 178, 180, 186, 223, 227, 228, 231, 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, 264, 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, 314, 350, 351, 362, 369, 373, 374, 380, 390, 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, 416, 423, 427, 433, 444, 447, 504, 510, 513, 543, 556, 558, 618, 638, 649, 663, 685, 711, 747, 757, 762, 763, or 789 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 2, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups.
 9. The gene amplification primer of claim 8, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups as specified in claim 8 is used.
 10. The gene amplification primer of claim 8, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups as specified in claim
 8. 11. The gene amplification primer of claim 8, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-gattgctgagtatcctggaaccatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-gaycctaacgacatggaaacc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-ttcwgarctytctgaagcs-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-agatgaygmkgtcgysgar-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (5) 5′-cgacggtgaaagyagcgacag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (6) 5′-caatgaactgcgcggyaagtt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (7) 5′-gtcacgaccaaattcattaac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (8) 5′-gyytgamgcttcagawgcttgrtka-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (9) 5′-ygargtrcgcagagtttcaacc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (10) 5′-catyaccaarcgytcttgg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (11) 5′-cgytcaacagacagtgawgtc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 12. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 3, 27, 66, 67, 75, 90, 117, 123, 141, 144, 177, 178, 180, 186, 223, 227, 228, 231, 250, 251, 255, 257, 259, 264, 300, 301, 302, 303, 305, 313, 314, 350, 351, 362, 369, 373, 374, 380, 390, 400, 402, 409, 410, 415, 416, 423, 427, 433, 444, 447, 504, 510, 513, 543, 556, 558, 618, 638, 649, 663, 685, 711, 747, 757, 762, 763, or 789 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 2, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups.
 13. A method for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 2 to 6 or 8 to 12 is used.
 14. A kit for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio mimicus bacterial groups, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 2 to 6 or 8 to 12 is used.
 15. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 in the sequence listing, which contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in a gene (gyrB) encoding a DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 3, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 16. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 3 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 3, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group.
 17. The gene amplification primer of claim 16, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group as specified in claim
 16. 18. The gene amplification primer of claim 16, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group as specified in claim 16 is used.
 19. The gene amplification primer of claim 16, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-ggtggttaacgcgctytct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-ycgatgaacgtgaagaagataaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-tgagaaagtcttccacttt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-gttaaagtggaagactttc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (5) 5′-gggtaagccwgcaagatcc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 20. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 3 in the sequence listing, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group.
 21. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 in the sequence listing, which contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in a gene (rpoD) encoding an RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 4, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 22. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 4, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group.
 23. The gene amplification primer of claim 22, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group as specified in claim
 22. 24. The gene amplification primer of claim 22, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group as specified in claim 22 is used.
 25. The gene amplification primer of claim 22, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-attcttgagcagtttgatcgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-caggccgaagagctacgtctc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-tgagctttctgaagcggatctcgcg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-gaagatgatgctgtcgtcgaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (5) 5′-gaagatgaagacgaagat-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (6) 5′-cggtatcgaccctgaactg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (7) 5′-catcaagcttctgaagcgtcaga-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (8) 5′-acggaagatatccarcactaa-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (9) 5′-tcaaccaagtggtcgaattgc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (10) 5′-gcgaacacgatccattgaagtg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (11) 5′-gatgaacgatttcttcggcatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (12) 5′-aaggactttatccagccac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (13) 5′-ttcttcttgctcacggactttcgc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (14) 5′-ttctgaattgaacggcggatc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (15) 5′-tgtctcttgctcgatcatttgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 26. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 4 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 4, said positions being unique to the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group.
 27. A method for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 16 to 20 or 22 to 26 is used.
 28. A kit for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio cholerae bacterial group, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 16 to 20 or 22 to 26 is used.
 29. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sequence listing, which contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in a gene (gyrB) encoding a DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 5, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 30. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 35, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group.
 31. The gene amplification primer of claim 30, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group as specified in claim 30 is used.
 32. The gene amplification primer of claim 30, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group as specified in claim
 30. 33. The gene amplification primer of claim 30, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-ggtagtgaatgccctgtca-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-cggatgagcgtgaagaagataag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-tgaaaaagtattccacttc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-gttgaagtggaatactttt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (5) 5′-wggcaaaccagckarrtct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 34. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 5 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 15, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 90, 111, 133, 226, 285, 291, 306, 330, 384, 390, 399, 507, 708, 756, 837, 867, 873, 879, 882, or 885 in the gene (gyrB) encoding the DNA gyrase β subunit of SEQ ID NO: 5, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group.
 35. A fragment of a gene represented by SEQ ID NO: 6 in the sequence listing, which contains one or more nucleotides at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in a gene (rpoD) encoding an RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 6, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, where said gene fragment can be used for designing a specific gene amplification primer or probe.
 36. A gene amplification primer, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 6, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group.
 37. The gene amplification primer of claim 36, wherein a region containing at a high frequency two or more positions unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group as specified in claim 36 is used.
 38. The gene amplification primer of claim 36, wherein the 3′ terminal nucleotide is a nucleotide at a position that is unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group as specified in claim
 36. 39. The gene amplification primer of claim 36, which contains any one of: (1) 5′-cattcttgaacagtttgacaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (2) 5′-caggcagaagaactacgtctg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (3) 5′-agarctctctgaagccgatctcgct-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (4) 5′-gaagatgacgaggtcgcggag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (5) 5′-gaggatgaagatgaagac-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (6) 5′-gggtattgaccctgagctc-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (7) 5′-taacaaagcatctgaagcttcaag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (8) 5′-gcggaaratatccagtaccag-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (9) 5′-tcaaccaaatggtcaaattgt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (10) 5′-acgaacacgatccatcgaggta-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (11) 5′-aataaatgatttctttggcatt-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (12) 5′-gagyactttatcragccat-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (13) 5′-gtcttcttgctcacgtactttttg-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; (14) 5′-ttggattgaagggcgaata-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto; or (15) 5′-agtctcytgttcgatcatctgm-3′ or a complementary strand corresponding thereto.
 40. A probe for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, which contains a strand or a complementary strand thereof containing 15 or more continuous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the sequence listing, where one or more nucleotides are at any of positions 12, 93, 96, 105, 114, 115, 116, 117, 126, 132, 141, 156, 198, 201, 216, 222, 231, 240, 252, 254, 255, 260, 261, 264, 276, 285, 291, 327, 333, 342, 345, 424, 426, 432, 441, 445, 446, 448, 450, 453, 468, 489, 495, 501, 519, 522, 525, 540, 549, 570, 585, 591, 600, 603, 606, 639, 645, 654, 657, 666, 675, 679, 680, 681, 687, 702, 705, 708, 714, 720, 723, 729, 732, 741, 750, 765, 768, 795, or 804 in the gene (rpoD) encoding the RNA polymerase σ70 factor of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the sequence listing, said positions being unique to the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group.
 41. A method for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 30 to 34 or 36 to 40 is used.
 42. A kit for detecting, quantifying, or identifying the Vibrio mimicus bacterial group, wherein the primer or the probe of any one of claims 30 to 34 or 36 to 40 is used. 